Jujeonggwan, CEO of Bookstory, Appointed as the 43rd Chairman of the Korea Publishing Cooperative

Elected in Executive Election on the 20th
Pledged Structural Reforms for Cooperative Profit
New Directors and Auditors Also Appointed

Joo Jung-kwan, CEO of Bookstory Co., Ltd. (age 57), was elected as the 43rd Chairman of the Korea Publishing Cooperative (the Cooperative), the Cooperative announced on the 24th.

Joo Jung-kwan, CEO of Bookstory Co., Ltd., elected as the 43rd Chairman of the Korea Publishing Cooperative. Photo by Korea Publishing Cooperative

According to the Cooperative, in the executive election held at the 2025 regular general meeting on the 20th at the KBIZ Hall of the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, candidate Joo Jung-kwan won against candidate Shin Min-sik, CEO of Guardian Co.

New Chairman Joo Jung-kwan previously served as Executive Director in charge of distribution at the Korea Publishing Culture Association, and as a director of both the Korea Publishing Cooperative and the Korea Publishers Association. He currently serves as an auditor for the Paju Book City Cultural Foundation. Recognized for his contributions to the development of publishing culture, he received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award in 2009, the Small and Medium Business Administration Commissioner Award in 2013, and the Prime Minister’s Award in 2024.

Chairman Joo previously pledged structural reforms aimed at profit pursuit. He stated that he would lead human and material efficiency improvements in the Cooperative’s book wholesale business and other operations to shift toward absolute profit pursuit, and decisively reorganize areas with ongoing losses. He also promised to practically support members’ marketing through social off-market sales agency services. Furthermore, he pledged to establish a publishing bank for Cooperative members.

After his election, Chairman Joo said, “I will listen carefully to the wise advice of my seniors, seek counsel, and work diligently for the Cooperative going forward.”

New directors elected include Noh Hyun (CEO of PY Mate Co., Ltd.), Park Se-won (Jeongminsa Publishing), Yoo Jae-geon (Greenbee Publishing Co., Ltd.), Lee Beom-man (21st Century Publishing), Jeong Soon-gu (Yeoksabipyungsa Co., Ltd.), and Hong Sung-woo (Girin Media Publishing Co., Ltd.). Auditors elected were Na Young-chan (Kijeon (MJ Media)) and Noh Hyun-chul (Haenam Publishing).